Caster



I Mrmsssx- C. H. BRYANT ET AL.

CASTER.

FILED MAR. 29. 1921-.

i i 'T'e it twi T. my '1 a! v villi ii Ali) CLAUDE H. ERYANT AND EAEUVEOND 1%.. OQBOEN, U15 LINCOLN, MJMINE.

EASTER;

Application filed March 29, 1921.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be itknown that we, CLAUDE ll. Berlin"? and R YMOND A. Usnonn, citizens of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Penobscot and State of lrlame, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Casters, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvemcnts in pasta-31s of the ball bearing type.

ft is an object of the inventionL to provide a caster which is exceedingly simple in concaster is therefore one which is inexpensive to i manufacture, consisting of a minimum nuni ber of parts which are assembled. in a coin pact relation. The main caster ball preferably retained in position by a movable retaining spring seated within a groove formed in the surface of the socket whereby the caster ball may be conveniently removed for the replacement of bearings, if desirable,

yet when all of the caster parts are assembled they will remain permanently in an operative position against accidental displacement.

lin the accompanying drawings we have shown the preferred embodiments of my invention, but these disclosures aremerely for the purpose of illustration, and the caster is subject to manychanges without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lin the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation showing caster and anti-friction balls in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of body disclosing anti-friction balls and caster ball in elevation. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view, and Fig. 4i is a side elevation showing a modified form of extension.

lwteferring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts, the numeral 1 designates the body of the caster, which is preferably one adaptedfor beds, tables, F chairs, etc." having the neck or extension 2 integrally cast with the body or casino 1.

to. assess.

.'.lhe body or casino i is, as disclosed provided with an interior socket 3 of a relatively large diameter having a seat 4-, which is slightly inclined toward the center and receives the row of an friction i 5 disposed in circular formati Any suitable anti-friction rollers may be employed, and for the purpose of illustration 1 have shown the conventional steel balls.

'ihere is also disposed within the hollow interior of the casing l the caster ball 6, which normally projects beyond the casing and seats upon or engages the anti-friction balls 5.. These balls therefore constitute an anti-friction support interposed between the main caster ball 6 and the ball bearing surface 5 to facilitate the movement of furniture to which the caster is applied with the least possible friction. To maintain the main caster ball c in position 1 preferably provide in the inner surface of the walls of the casino; 1 a circumferential chamber 7 extending entirely therearound, which chamber receives the removable retaining wire 8, which engages the side of the main caster ball 6 below its center so as to prevent said ball from droppin from within the socket in the oils ing, but of course in no way serving to bind or impede the rotation of this caster ball. This retaining ring is preferably of spring wire or steel, and may be readily inserted within the circumferential. chamber formed in the caster body. It will be noted that when the, various parts of the caster are assembled that the entire article is very compact in formation and consists of few parts, so that the is inexpensive to manufacture. There being no fragile or weak elements in the casting, the same obviously possesses much strength and should it be desirable to replace any parts thereof, it is only necessary to remove the spring retaining wire 8 whereupon the main caster wheel orv balll'iearings may be replaced. The caster is preferably attached to furniture or the like by inserting? the neck 2 within an opening in the furniture altliiough other means of attaclnnent may be resorted to, if desirable.

In Figure 4 of the drawings we have shown another form of the invention, but this merely relates to the method of attaching the casting to furniture. in this construction the body 3 of the caster is of the same construction disclosed in Figure 1, and the anti-friction balls 5 and main caster 53 are arranged in the identical inennen However, instead of providing the extension 2, this form oi caster comprises a socket member 10 projecting from the body hava hollow interior 11 adapted to receive the leg of a piano, chair or the lilze by Which means the caster is applied to the article for which it is used. It will of course be understood that the caster can be united to turniture manners other-than herein shown. and described, and we WiSll it to be understood that We are not limited in any sense to the means herein dieclosed h which the caster attached to furniture or the like.

Having thus described the invention, What we claim is:

f r caeter con'iprieing :1 metallic body having socket therein. the side Walls of said eocket presenting substantially smooth surfaces and the upper wall of sziid Socket inclining 'l'roiu each side to the center thereof and heriug :1 smooth upper sur'hu'e constitutms); 2i

center the socket.

In teetiri'uni whereof c uilix our tures.

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